Author Archives: Patricia Smith

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, dry wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Aunt Moss made a salted butterscotch beetroot cake, to have after dinner. It looked as if it was going to taste delicious. After dinner, everyone sat aroundContinue reading “Yes and No”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was very excited. It was Library Lovers’ Day and there was a special celebration at the library, with morning tea, and a visit from a famous author namedContinue reading “The Trophy”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a safe, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. “Let’s go on a picnic,” said Aunt Lillibet. Aunt Moss clapped her hands. “Oh yes!” she said. “I love picnics! We can take the hibiscus jelly muffins you madeContinue reading “The Magpies”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, warm wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was reading an interesting library book about a country that had lots of snow everywhere, on the ground, on the trees, even on the houses. There was aContinue reading “Grass Skiing”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a safe, warm wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson told a lie. It wasn’t a very big lie, but even a small lie can you into a lot of trouble. He was going to theContinue reading “Nesbit”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, dry wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s mother took him to the big park one day, to play with his friend Mick and Mick’s sister, Bonnie Lou. There were beautiful trees everywhere, and picnic tablesContinue reading “Cooperation or The Perils of Frankie”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a tidy, cosy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It was a hot day in the middle of summer, and everyone was down at the creek. Benson was paddling in the shallow water near the bank while hisContinue reading “The Platypus Prince”

for Jo Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, happy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It was World Wombat Day, and everyone was celebrating. There was going to be a big ceremony at the community centre, and Nanna was getting a specialContinue reading “Helping People”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s Uncle Elton loved machines and machinery. Sometimes he would get an idea and then he would make something out of all sorts of things that he had inContinue reading “The Leaf Blower”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, warm wombat hole with his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. At bedtime, Benson’s mother said to him, “First thing tomorrow you’re going to have to tidy your room. There are things everywhere.” Benson grumbled quietly. He liked having his saxophone on theContinue reading “The Elf”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One evening after dinner Benson was reading a book from the library about a country called Canada. He looked up from his book and asked his mother, “Can weContinue reading “Polar Bears and Fireflies”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s best friend in all the world was an echidna named Roly. Even though Roly was an echidna and Benson was a wombat, they still loved to be togetherContinue reading “Saying Goodbye”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a clean, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Aunt Lillibet had made herself a new hat. It was made of plastic grapes and cellophane, with a cauliflower made out of a face-washer stuck on the top. SheContinue reading “Plop!”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a tidy, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day when Benson was taking some scraps out to the compost heap he saw a strange animal. It was a kind of lizard with a funny orangey frillContinue reading “Melrose”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Winter was coming and the days were getting colder. It was raining outside, so Benson’s mother made barley and tomato soup with lots of broccoli, to warm them up.Continue reading “Yawning”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s mother was making lemon myrtle and macadamia muffins, but when she looked in the cupboard but there were no macadamias left. “Come on, Benson,” she said, “we’ll goContinue reading “The Greedy Goanna”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a safe, comfortable wombat hole with his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Aunt Lillibet said, “That ceiling definitely needs painting again.” Aunt Moss said, “Oh no, Lillibet, you can’t paint the ceiling. Remember how you are with ladders.” Aunt Lillibet was terrifiedContinue reading “Reaching for the Stars”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, safe wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s friend, Zali, had a baby sister called Zip, who was still so little that she spent most of her time in her mother’s pouch. She couldn’t really talk,Continue reading “Panda Buttons”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a tidy, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It all started when Benson’s cousin, Lance, came over for lunch and broke the door off the fridge. He was just opening the fridge to see if there wasContinue reading “The Red Rocket”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, cosy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson was playing outside when a shiny red ball fell out of the sky and hit him right on the nose. “Ow!” he said. He looked around,Continue reading “The Bouncy Red Ball”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a safe, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson was drawing space planes and his mother was fixing the leg of the table where Benson and Mick and been playing Crocodile Hunters a bit tooContinue reading “Pick Me!”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a comfortable, dry wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Aunt Lillibet’s friend Gordon was very excited. “I’ve found a cave with ancient rock paintings on the walls!” he said. “They’re probably thousands of years old!” “Paintings of rocks?”Continue reading “Rock Painting”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a tidy, happy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s friend Roly came over to help him build a new design for an automatic potato peeler and afterwards they had lunch together. Benson’s mother looked at all theContinue reading “Rubber Gloves Up!”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Everyone was going to Nanna’s place for a quilting bee. “What’s a quilting bee?” Benson asked his mother. “It’s when everyone gets together and helps make a quilt,” sheContinue reading “The Stick”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day when Benson went to the playground, someone new was there. He was a young wombat like Benson, but he didn’t look the same. Benson went up toContinue reading “Ear Mites”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, cosy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson had a secret. It was such a good secret, he could hardly stop himself talking about it. “You’re going to love it,” he said to his mother, andContinue reading “The Leaky Tree”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson woke up early and went out to the kitchen before anyone else was up, to get a drink of water. In the middle of the kitchenContinue reading “Benson and the Box”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a tidy, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson woke up early and he was hungry. He went out to the kitchen and decided to make some pancakes. “Pancakes are easy,” he thought to himself.Continue reading “When is a Pancake Not a Pancake?”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a safe, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. At the beginning of the year, Aunt Lillibet gave Benson a present. “It’s a diary,” she said. It was a book with no pictures, and no stories, just datesContinue reading “Benson’s Diary”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a tidy, clean wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning, Benson’s uncle Elton came over. “Guess what?” he said. “The most tremendous thing has happened!” “What’s happened?” Aunt Lillibet said. “You found your missing purple sock?” “No,Continue reading “Aunt Moss’s Kayaking Lesson”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a safe, warm wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning after breakfast, Benson went out to ride his bike. He hadn’t gone very far when he noticed something lying under some bushes at the side of theContinue reading “The Endling”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a safe, warm wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson and his mother were going to the big park to have a picnic. Benson made some sandwiches with almond butter and watercress and celery, and his mother madeContinue reading “The Soccer Ball”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, happy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson went to visit his friend, Roly, one day, to have a chat about things. He liked talking to Roly because Roly knew things, and he always listened withoutContinue reading “Echidna on a Skateboard”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s Nanna had a cough that wouldn’t go away. It made her very tired. Sometimes she was so tired, she couldn’t work in the the garden and she justContinue reading “Nanna’s Holiday”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a comfortable, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was trying to build a fort out of old pieces of wood, and he got a splinter in his finger. “My finger hurts,” he said to his mother.Continue reading “A Splinter in Your Finger”